War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

The Israeli army says air raid sirens had been activated in the country’s north, before saying in another statement that it was a false alarm, according to Al Jazeera.

“Alerts have been activated in the Avashdim and Yir’on areas,” the Israeli Defence Force says on X.

In another post, it says, “Following the alerts that were activated a short time ago in the Avichayil and Yavne airspace, this was a false identification.”

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that an Israeli drone has struck Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

More than 20 million people are expected to travel to Tehran for the funeral of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, which would more than double the capital’s population of roughly 10 million residents, Al Jazeera reports citing IRIB state TV.

In addition to ceremonies in Tehran, funeral events are also planned in the holy city of Qom and in Mashhad, where large crowds are also anticipated.

Residents are gradually returning to the southern Lebanese town of Qana, and other villages in the Tyre district, Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground report.

About 90 per cent of Qana’s population has returned, despite widespread destruction of roads, homes and infrastructure.

The UN estimates that about 40pc of Lebanon’s total displaced population has returned home.

Iran has criticised a US-led regional security meeting hosted by Bahrain, after senior military officials from 12 Middle Eastern countries met with US Central Command (Centcom) to discuss regional defence cooperation and maritime security, Al Jazeera reports.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei writes in a post on X that Washington had “constantly demonstrated its complete contempt for genuine peace and security in West Asia”, dismissing such meetings as “nothing more than performative posturing”.

Baqaei accuses Washington of seeking to conceal the US’ “destabilising policies and lawless behaviour in the region” and urges regional states to “remain vigilant and draw clear lessons from the most recent US and Israeli military aggressions”.

Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal has met British Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs Barbara Woodward and a British delegation in Yarzeh, in the presence of UK Ambassador Hamish Cowell, Al Jazeera reports citing the National News Agency (NNA).

The talks focused on the Lebanese army’s role, progress on implementing the framework agreement, and avenues of support for the military amid the challenges facing Lebanon during what officials described as a critical period, NNA adds.

Haykal has also received Pakistani Ambassador Salman Athar and discussions covered Haykal’s recent visit to Pakistan and ways to advance the outcomes of the trip.

Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone today with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Foreign Office says.

“The two leaders discussed the regional situation, especially the recent round of mediations in Doha,” it said, adding that both expressed their “satisfaction on the positive progress made during this negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in near future”.

The Saudi minister appreciated Pakistan’s “efforts and steadfast commitment to the implementation of the Islamabad MoU and its continued role in advancing dialogue and promoting lasting peace in the region”, the FO said.

Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 4,298 people have been killed and 12,196 wounded by Israeli attacks since March 2, according to Al Jazeera.

Oil prices have fallen nearly 2 per cent to a four-month low as concerns over supply disruptions eased after Qatar said Iran and the US made progress in talks over the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Brent futures are 91 cents, or 1.3pc lower, at $70.66 a barrel as of 1316 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude has fallen by $1.04, or 1.5pc, to $67.54 a barrel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says a massive public turnout at the funeral of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will serve as a “decisive” response to terrorism, violence and bullying, while demonstrating national unity, state broadcaster Press TV reports.

“Your huge presence is a decisive response to terror, violence, and bullying, and a clear message to the world showing that the Iranian nation stands united and unanimous in defending their independence and dignity,” he says.

Lebanon and Syria have signed an agreement of mutual respect and non-interference in Beirut, AlJazeera reports.

It comes as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Lebanon’s capital in the presence of delegations from both sides.

The agreement includes “principles of cooperation, including respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of either state, equality between the two parties, and non-interference”, the report states, citing Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defends negotiations with Israel, saying they are not a betrayal and he will not surrender “a single inch of Lebanon’s territory”, according to the presidency, AFP reports.

Negotiations with Israel are not “treason but a diplomatic war without unnecessary bloodshed”, Aoun says.

The Lebanese president adds that Beirut has decided to engage in talks “to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from its territory”.

“We will not yield a single inch of Lebanese territory,” Aoun declares.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says the country will not relinquish any territory in the framework agreement with Israel, adding that the principle of sovereignty extends to decisions made by the state.

According to a statement from his office, Aoun says that the framework does not conflict with Lebanese rights and constants, but “seeks to fully guarantee them”.

“The concept of sovereignty includes the state’s sovereignty in its decision-making, which has decided to proceed with negotiations to reclaim its rights and ensure Israel’s withdrawal from its lands, and negotiations are not betrayal, but rather bloodless diplomatic warfare that does not squander lives in vain,” the statement reads, adding that in this context, respecting the principle of sovereignty means respecting the state’s decision.

“We will not relinquish a single inch of Lebanese land, and let judgment be passed on us through implementation, for the goals we have set before our eyes do not differ from the goals of all Lebanese without exception,” Aoun states.

The governor of Tehran has denied rumours that internet services in the city will be shut down during the funeral of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Rumours of internet restrictions during the ceremony days are unfounded; rather, [the] communication infrastructure has been significantly reinforced through the deployment of mobile operator sites,” Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian says in comments carried by the Fars news agency.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is in Lebanon and has met President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Al Jazeera reports.

The former rebel fighters who now govern Syria fought against Hezbollah for years as it was deployed there to support former President Bashar al-Assad. It would be the first time the two sides meet.

Al-Shaibani says Syria is open to meeting Hezbollah representatives “if interests require ⁠it”, Lebanon’s National News Agency reports.

His visit comes as Damascus insists it does not want to intervene militarily in Lebanon despite pressure from the United States to do so.

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya military headquarters has warned the US against operating manned and unmanned aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that it will “endanger regional security”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says the US-sponsored deal with Israel is intended to define the path of negotiations towards a lasting settlement, but is not itself a treaty, Al Jazeera reports.

“The phrase ‘framework agreement’ causes confusion,” local media quotes Salam as saying.

“We are talking about a guiding framework for negotiations to define their path with the aim of reaching an agreement,” he says in an interview with Lebanon’s private broadcaster LBCI.

“We are not enthusiasts for negotiations with Israel, but we reached this stage after two wars that left thousands of victims,” he adds.

Hong Kong’s flagship airline Cathay Pacific has announced that it will resume flights to the Middle East, as the United States and Iran signal that efforts to end the war remain viable, AFP reports.

Cathay suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh at the end of February after the war broke out. The airline has raised fuel surcharges several times as the conflict has driven up oil prices.

It says it will resume daily passenger flights to Dubai and four-times weekly passenger flights to Riyadh from September 1. Freighter services to Riyadh will resume from August 1.

“Cathay will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East prior to the resumption dates,” the company states.

India says that its deputy foreign minister and a state governor will represent the country at the state funeral of Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reports.

Governor of Bihar, Syed Ata Hasnain, and Deputy Foreign Minister Pabitra Margherita will visit Iran on July 3, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements,” it said.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says the US-sponsored deal with Israel is intended to define the path of negotiations towards a lasting settlement but is not itself a treaty, Al Jazeera reports.

“The phrase ‘framework agreement’ causes confusion,” local media quoted Salam as saying.

“We are talking about a guiding framework for negotiations to define their path with the aim of reaching an agreement, not an agreement or treaty,” Salam said in an interview with Lebanon’s private broadcaster LBCI.

“We are not enthusiasts for negotiations with Israel, but we reached this stage after two wars that left thousands of victims,” he said, adding that the first offensive caused direct damage exceeding $7 billion, excluding economic losses estimated at around $13bn.

All commercial vessels are obliged to take the Iranian-designated maritime route for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz or face the consequences, Iran’s military headquarters warns according to Al Jazeera.

“Any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with a decisive and swift response from the armed forces,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement.

“The Strait of Hormuz is not the playground of the aggressor America, but rather the territory of the undisputed sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The Fars News Agency quoted the statement as saying: “The security and maintenance of the stability of this vital waterway are the red line of the powerful armed forces of Islamic Iran.”